Rational Synthesis of Metal–Organic Framework Nanocubes and Nanosheets Using Selective Modulators and Their Morphology-Dependent Gas-Sorption Properties

Nanocubes and nanosheets of [Cu 2 (ndc) 2 (dabco)] n metal–organic framework (ndc = 1,4-naphthalene dicarboxylate; dabco = 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane) were synthesized by using simultaneously acetic acid and pyridine or only pyridine, respectively, as selective modulators. This approach can tailor crystal growing on different directions for the size- and shape-controlled synthesis of metal–organic framework (MOF) nanocrystals whose structure is composed of two or more types of linkers using selective modulators. These MOF nanocrystals exhibit high crystallinity and higher CO 2 uptakes compared to that of the bulk MOF material or of the [Cu 2 (ndc) 2 (dabco)] n nanorods generated by using only acetic acid as the selective modulator, which may be due to the morphology effect on their gas sorption properties.